Portable bulkhead



July 18, 1939. J. McMULLEN El' AL PORTABLE BULKHEAD Filed May 5, 1958 N@y T 3% W WM 75 ML W L N G OT f9 Patented July 18, 1939 g I 2,166,9l8

PATENT OFFiCE PORTABLE BULKHEAD John McMullen, Bufialo, N. Y., and John T. Gallagher, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 3, 1938, Serial No. 205,732

9 Claims. (Cl. 105369) UNi EPJ A heads of simple, sturdy and inexpensive construction characterized additionally by ease of placement and removal. 7 a

A further object is to provide portable bulkheads capable of 'placementand effective use without requiring modification of or addition to the structure in which they are employed.

A 'furtherobject is to provide portable bulkheads whichshall require very little storage space. e l

I A further object is to provide portable bulkheads, the parts of which may be nested so that the bulkheads will be free of projections, but capable'of easy handling and requiring a minimum of space for storage when not in use.

A further object is to provide portable bulkheads having merchandise engaging portions and braces, the latter being capable of disposition substantially within the vertical planes defining said portions and of being secured to said portions when the bulkheads are not in use. 7

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification? Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the invention.

- Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing a modifled form ofthe -inventionr Figured is an end elevation showing the bulkhead ofFigure 3, with .the partsnestedand fastened together.

, Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a further modified form of the invention.

. Referring to the drawing and more particularly' to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral l0 designates in its entirety a portable bulkhead involving the instant invention. The bulkhead comprises spaced metallic uprights II which proferably are channel shaped in section and arranged so that the flanges I2 and" I3 of each of the uprights H extend rearwardly. An angle member I4 is secured to thewebs l5 at the upper margins of the uprights H so thatthe flange N5 of said angle member projects forwardly. An angle member I! is secured to the webs l5 of the uprights at the lower margins thereof so that the flange I8 of said angle member projects rearwardly and constitutes the nailing flange of the merchandise engaging wall of the bulkhead by means of which said wall may be secured to a support. Openings H! are formed in the flange l8 through which nails may be driven into the support. The uprights H and upper and lower ang members M and I1 secured thereto thus comprise a metallic frame to which spaced boards B which may be of wood are secured as by means of bolts 23 passing through said boards and the webs l5 oi the channel uprights. The boardsB preferably extend beyond the ends of the frame and are formed of one piece members although it is to be understood that the length of these boards may vary and they may be formed of sections joined together.

Braces 2| which are preferably channel shaped in section are hingedly fastened to the Webs l5 of the uprights by means of the hinges 22. The braces are arranged so that their flanges 23-23 extend rearwardly from the Webs 24. Nailing flanges 25 are secured to the lower ends 'of the webs of the braces 2| preferably by being hinged thereto.

A locking pin 26 is supported by means of a chain 21 fastened adjacent the upper ends of each of the uprights l l.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing, the openings IS in the horizontal flange E8 of the bottom angle frame member are omitted and in lieu thereof, nailing flanges 28 fastened to the lower ends of the webs l5 of the channel uprights ll preier-' ably by being hinged thereto are utilized for the purpose of fastening the merchandise engaging wall of the bulkhead to the support. The sac rifice of strength of the bottom angle frame member I? where openings are formed in the horizontal flange i8 is avoided by this construction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing additional bracing means for the merchandise engaging wall is provided by virtue of which the nailing of the merchandise engaging wall to a support is obviated while avoiding rotation of said wall about the hinged engagement with the bracing members when the wall is subjected to pressure of the merchandise. In the considered embodiment of the invention the bracing means takes the form preferably of channel members 29 hingedly secured to the webs l5 of the uprights I I as indicated at 30. The web 3| of each of the bracing members 29 terminates short of the free ends of the flanges 32 whereby said flanges are permitted to engage the outer faces of the flanges 23 of the main bracing members 2|. Adjacent the outer ends of the webs there are secured chains 33 which carry pins 34.

It will be observed that aligned openings 3535 are provided in the flanges lZ-l3 of each of the uprights II and that aligned openings 3E36 are formed in the flanges 2323 of the bracing members 2|. In use the bulkhead is disposed so that the horizontal flange l8 of the bottom angle member I! rests upon the supporting surface whereupon the merchandise engaging wall of the bulkhead may be fastened to the supporting surface by means of nails or the like extending through either the openings in the horizontal flange l8 or through openings provided in the hinged nailing flanges 28. The braces which have assumed their proper angle position relative to the supporting surface are then nailed or otherwise fastened thereto by means extending through the openings provided in the nailing flanges 25. The bulkhead will then maintain any merchandise in position against displacement or shifting and tendency of the merchandise engaging walls of the bulkhead to rotate under pressure of the merchandise is effectively resisted. By reason of the employment of the hinged nailing flanges, irregularities insupporting surfaces are compensated for. Where the nailing of the merchandise engaging wall to the supporting surfaces is omitted the bracing members 29 are releasably fastened to thebracing members 2| by means of the pins 34 which extend through openings in the flanges 32 and the openings 36 formed in the flanges 23 of the bracing members 2|. Tendency of the merchandise engaging wall to rotate under pressure is also resisted by the bulkhead even though the merchandiseengaging walls rests free upon a supporting surface.

With reference to Figure 4 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the braces and hinged nailing flanges may be nested relative to the wall or upright members of the bulkhead as to be confined within the vertical planes defining said wall. or uprights. By reason of this nesting of the braces, the bulkhead may when not in use be assembled into a compact unit requiring a minimum of space for storage and permitting easy handling thereof. To nest the indicated parts of the bulkhead, the hinged nailing flanges 25 are swung about their pivots so as to be disposed inwardly of the flanges 23. The bracing members 2| may then be swung upwardly about their pivots so as to be receivedbetween the flanges l2 and I3-of the uprights H where they may be secured by means of the pins 26 which may be passed through the openings 3535 and the openings 36-38 aligned therewith. Similarly the bracing channels 29 may be swung upwardly between the flanges I2 and I3 of the uprights and be secured thereto by means of the pins 34 which may be passedthrough the openings in the flanges'32- and through the openings 31. formed in the flanges l2 and I3 of the uprights. The braces 2| in the embodiment-of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing may similarly be nested with the uprights l I and be secured thereto by the pins 26.

It, will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes he comprehended within this invention, which-is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, the merchandise engaging wall illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing may be nailed down to a support by providing openings IS in the horizontal flange I8 of the bottom angle member, or by employing the hinged nailing flanges 28 shown in Figure 5 of the drawing.

We claim:

1. A portable bulkhead comprising spaced channel shaped uprights, spaced horizontal members extending between and fastened to said uprights, braces hinged to said uprights, nailing flanges hingedly secured to said braces, said nailing flanges being swingable to nested position in said braces and said braces being swingable to nested position in said uprights, and means for releasably fastening said braces when nested to said uprights.

2. A portable bulkhead comprising spaced channel shaped uprights, spaced horizontal members extending between and fastened to said uprights, nailing. flanges hingedly secured to said uprights, flanged braces hinged to said uprights and having means forfastening said braces to a support, said bracesand nailing flanges being swingable to nested position in said uprights, the flangesof said uprights and braces being overlapped in said nested position, aligned openings in said flanges, and pins adapted to extend through said openings for fastening said braces to said uprights;

3. A device of the character described comprise ing a wall having spaced uprights, means hinged to said uprights adapted tube-secured, to a support and horizontal members secured to saiduprights, braces hinged to saiduprights, said braces and, said meansbeing swingable relative to said uprightsfor disposition substantiallywithin the verticalpla-nes defining said uprights, and means for releasably fastening said braces and said uprights together.

4. A device of the character described comprising awall having spaced uprights, means hinged to; said uprightsadapted' to be secured to a support and horizontal members secured to said uprights, braces hinged to said uprights, flanges hinged to said braces-adapted to be secured to said support,. said flanges being. swingable inwardly of said-braces and said braces and said means being swingable relative to said uprights for disposition substantially within the vertical planes defining said uprights, and means for releasably fastening said braces and said uprights together.

5. A device of thecharacter' described comprising a wall having spaced uprights;.me'ans hinged to sai'd uprights-adapted-tobe secured'to'a support andihorizontal 'members'secured to said'uprights, braces hinged to said uprights, sa'id braces and said'fime'ar'isbeing swingable reliajtive to said uprights for disposition substantially within the vertic'al planes-demiin'g saiduprights, and means for releasably fastening said braces and said uprights together, said last mentioned means comprising pins carried by said uprights and adapted to extend through aligned'openin'gs in said uprights and'said braces.

6'. A device of the character described comprising a metallic frame having. spaced uprights and upper and. lower horizontal members connecting said uprights, horizontal members between said upperand lower frame members fastened to saiduprights, braces hinged to said uprights intermediate the ends'thereof and having means for securing said braces to a support, and hinged nailing flanges secured to said uprights.

7. A portable bulkhead comprising spaced channel shaped uprights, spaced horizontal members extending between and fastened to said uprights, braces hinged to said uprights, nailing flanges hingedly secured to said uprights, nailing flanges hingedly secured to said braces and disposable inwardly of said braces, said braces and said nailing flanges on said uprights being swingable to nested position in said uprights, and means for releasably fastening said braces to said uprights.

8. A device of the character described comprising a metallic frame having spaced uprights and upper and lower horizontal members connecting said uprights and means for securing said frame to a support, horizontal members between said upper and lower frame members fastened to said uprights, braces hinged tosaid uprights intermediate the ends thereof, and hinged nailing flanges secured to the free ends of said braces.

9. A device of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular metallic frame including channel shaped uprights, braces hinged to said uprights, additional braces hinged to said uprights and adapted to be fastened to said first mentioned braces, all of said braces being swingable to nested position in said uprights, and means securing said braces to said uprights.

JOHN McMULLEN. JOHN T. GALLAGHER. 

